Horse-shoe type, plate-shaped, plastic hoof fitting

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a horseshoe-like, plate-configured hoof pad of plastic material having two legs that can be adapted to the size of the hoof by means of changing their distance with respect to one another. A connecting bar which can be engaged with the legs of the pad in the area of their ends is configured as surface covering, separate snug-fit-piece completing the circumference of the leg ends completely in order to connect them to each other. The connecting bar includes a circumferential configuration that fills within the leg ends back-cut-recesses in form of flat, lateral bows, wherein the snug-fit-piece can be inserted into the running surface of the leg ends which can be completely integrated in order to keep the leg ends in configurational and force transmitting connection to one another and to make the snug-fit-piece exchangeably removable from the leg ends. At least some of the profile bodies are defined by a border in order to form a depression wherein at least one hoof nail can be placed.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. national phase application that claimspriority to International Application No. PCT/EP01/07725 filed Jul. 5,2001 that is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide hoof pads with distantly arranged legs within thefrog portion of the hoof. EP 893 057 discloses such a hoof pad wherein aline of holes disposed in the hoof pad in the area of the white line ofthe hoof is used for attaching the pad to the hoof. This type of hoofpad is adaptable to different hoof sizes by spreading the legs of thepad to a certain extent adjacent their ends, so that one size of pad issuitable for several hoof sizes as the required size of the hoof pad canbe attained by using plate-like connecting means between the ends of thelegs whereby the hoof pad can be spread or, respectively, contracted sothat the line of holes within the pad can be located over the respectivewhite line of the hoof. Different connecting means are provided, such asfor instance a clip, the free end of which may be continuously adjustedand attached to the adjacent other end of the clip by screwing, stickingtogether or welding. Moreover, crosspieces are also proposed, which areshiftable with respect to one another, for bridging the distance betweenthe ends of the legs of the hoof pad. The crosspieces are attached tothe legs with a connecting screw device.

In each case, the prior art connecting means are structured such thatthey only connect the ends of the legs defining the frog opening, but donot form a uniform closure of the ends of the legs. Thus, the connectingmeans are either asymmetrically configured with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the hoof pad, covering only one of the legs or, incase of a symmetrical configuration, the connecting bars establish onlya point-like connection of the ends of the legs with screws, wherein theends are provided with screw bores corresponding to respective boresformed within the connecting bars, into which the corresponding screwsare inserted.

Moreover, the known hoof pads are provided with a nap-like structure onthe bottom surface, consisting of single naps connected to each other bybars the height of which is less than the height of the naps. In thismanner, the hoof pad prevents the hoof from slipping or sliding on theground surface.

It has been found out that the attachment of the hoof pad with nailsrequires precise adjustment of the pad on the hoof so that the nails hitthe so-called white line of the hoof. This practice is time-consumingand cannot be exactly turned out because of the fact that the points ofthe nails often move laterally when hit with a hammer because of theflexibility of the plastic material of the pad whereby the so-calledwhite line is missed.

The published European patent application 00 109 538.9 includes aproposal even more pertinent to the mentioned subject matter, because itdescribes the connection of the ends of the legs of the hoof pad bymeans of a connecting bar configured as a snug-fit-piece insertable intorecesses within the ends of the legs in form of flat lateral bows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a horseshoe-like, plate-like hoof pad of plasticmaterial having two legs, which can be adapted to the size of the hoofby a device for changing the distance of the two legs with respect toone another, which device having the form of a connecting bar engageablewith the legs of the pad within the area of their ends, which pad havinga lower surface contacting the underground provided with profileelements. The connecting bar is configured as a surface covering,separate snug-fit-piece, completing essentially completely the form ofthe circumference of the ends of the legs in order to connect them toeach other, whereas these ends are also provided with a circumferentialconfiguration filling excesses cut into the ends of the legs in form ofsurface covering, lateral bows. Moreover, the snug-fit-piece can beinserted into the surface or lower face of the ends of the legs and canbe essentially completely integrated therein, in order to maintain theends of the legs connected with one another due to configuration andforce and in order to replace the snug-fit-piece by removing it from theends of the legs, wherein at least some of the profile elements aredefined by an edge for the formation of a depression in each of which atleast one hoof nail may be placed.

The use of the snug-fit-piece between the ends of the legs of the hoofpad causes the ends of the legs to remain fixed so that under load theydo not spread to the extent they do when the connecting means for thetwo ends of the legs is only a narrow, straight or bent bar which isfixed to the ends of the legs. The proposed snug-fit-piece is able toconnect the ends of the legs configurationally as well as symmetricallywith respect to the longitudinal axis of the hoof pad. This connectionmeans is advantageous because it counteracts the forces affecting theends of the legs during the use of the hoof pad, which forces tend todeform the ends of the legs. Because of the special configuration of thecircumference of the snug-fit-piece the withhold forces developed by thesnug-fit-piece piece are transferred into an essentially larger crosssection of the ends of the legs resulting in a less stress of thematerial at the ends of the legs so that the connecting bar does notbreak under load. This is of essential importance because thedeformation resistance of the plastic material under the influence ofpressure and temperature is less than that of common materials for hoofpads, namely metals.

Moreover, the use of snug-fit-pieces as connecting means enables arelatively simple adaptation of the hoof pad to different size hoofs andespecially to different locations of the so-called white line of thehoof, which is the only means for the reception of fastening means.Thus, by using different sizes of snug-fit-pieces, a definite size ofhoof plate can be spread to a certain extent within the frog area.

Besides these apparent improvements, the proposed hoof pads may beadapted to improve health and effectiveness of the legs or hoofs,respectively, of horses particularly with regard to the natural hooffunction and the anatomic structure of the horse foot, its capacity forbearing a load, its displacement of weights and force effects and loadeffects considering inter alia the behaviour of wild horses.

The above objective is solved according to the invention by providingthe head part connecting the two legs of the pad with a flat front edgeand the running surface of the pad with a running surface portionextending at both sides of the middle axis of the pad essentially to theouter edge of the legs. The running surface portion is free of profilebodies and is provided with a wedge-shaped cross section enlarged in thedirection of the ends of the legs and having on the middle axis a widthcorresponding to about half of the width of the head portion between itsfront edge and its rear edge. The head portion adjacent to the runningsurface portion is free of profile bodies and a further running surfaceportion is located provided with nob-like profile bodies.

By this configuration of the hoof pad, the rolling quality of the bottomsurface of the hoof pad on the ground is improved simultaneouslyreducing the abrasion of the pad material so that the load on the hoofand the dispersion of forces affecting the horse foot are improved suchthat the danger of injury to the foot bones or the horse legs, as wellas pathological deformations of the bone structure, are essentiallyreduced even under extreme loads that are sometimes experienced bycompetition horses.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lifetime ofthe hoof pad can be improved further by putting the connecting bar afterits insertion at the ends of the legs under tension and not underpressure because pressure can result in bowing the bar.

Moreover it is also advantageous to provide the running surface of thepad adjacent to the head portion connecting the two legs, with slot-likecavities extending in the direction of the width of the legs and beingseparated from each other by dumb-bell-like profile bodies and beingable to receive the heads of hoof nails which are hammered into theso-called white line of the hoof.

Further advantageous embodiments are characterized in the sub-claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in further detail on the basis of thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the lower or, respectively, bottom side of thehoof pad provided with an installed snug-fit-piece,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of the hoof pad of FIG. 1 alongthe line A—A provided with an inserted connecting bar or snug-fit-piece,

FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view of the round hole figuration at “C”in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the legs along the line B—B in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The plate-like configured hoof pad 1 as shown in FIG. 1 comprises ahoof-shoe-like configuration having two legs 7 operative to beselectively adapted to the size of a hoof with means for changing thedistance of the legs with respect to one another in form of a connectingbar 8, also called a distance piece. This connecting bar 8 can bebrought into engagement with the legs 7 of the hoof in the area of theends 3 by inserting the bulging ends of the connecting bar 8 intocorrespondingly configurated surface recesses of the legs 7. The pad 1is provided with a running surface 11 covered with nob-like profilebodies 9. The connecting bar 8 is a surface covering, separatesnug-fit-piece, which essentially completes the circumferentialconfiguration of the ends 3 of the legs 7 in order to connect them toeach other. The connecting bar 8 also includes a circumferentialconfiguration 27 which fills a back-cut recess 10 in the ends of thelegs 7 in form of flat lateral bows. The connecting bar 8 can beinserted into the surface or, respectively, running surface 11 of theends 3 of the legs 7 and can be essentially completely integrated inthese ends, in order to maintain the leg ends 3 connected inconfigurational and force transmitting respect. On the other hand, theconnecting bar can be removed from the ends 3 of the legs 7 if it isnecessary because of the inherent abrasion. At least some of the profilebodies 9 are configured as dumb-bell-like profile bodies 17, betweenwhich slot-like depressions 16 are provided, wherein at least one hoofnail can be placed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the head portion 2 connecting the two legs 7 of thepad 1 is provided with a flat front side edge 4 as well as with arunning surface portion 13 on the running surface 11 of the pad at bothsides of the center axis A-A of the pad. The running surface portion 13extends to the outer edge of the leg 7 and is free of profile bodies ofany kind especially the noblike profile bodies 9. The running surfaceportion 13 is disposed with a wedge-shaped cross section 5 being emergedin the direction of the ends of the legs 7 as shown in FIG. 2. Thisrunning surface portion 13 has in the center axis A—A a widthcorresponding in this area of the center axis to about half of the widthD of the head portion 2 in its front edge 4 and its rear edge 15. Withinthe head portion 2 the running surface portion 13 which is free ofprofile bodies is followed by a running surface portion 20 covered withnob-like profile bodies 9. On this running surface portion 20 theprofile bodies 9 are located in several lines behind one another and atleast partly in gaps. Those nob-like profile bodies 9 having thesmallest distance from the edge 15 are connected to one another by a bar24.

Nob-like profile bodies 9 have partly a round and partly adumb-bell-like cross section as shown in FIG. 1, and the running surface11 of the pad 1 following up the head portion 2 connecting the two legs7 is provided with slot-like depressions 16 extending in the directionof the width of the legs 7 and separated from one another by thedumb-bell-like profile bodies 17. These depressions 16 receive asexplained above the heads of hoof nails which are to be hammered intothe so-called white line of the hoof in order to fix pad 1 with thehorse hoof as a common iron hoof pad.

As can be gathered from FIG. 1, the last slot-like depression 16 in thedirection of the ends 3 of the legs 7 is just in front of the connectingbar 8 so that the bar or, respectively, the leg portion carrying it isnot affected.

In the area of the ends 3 of the legs 7 the running surface 11 isprovided with nob-like profile bodies 9 dispersed over the width andlength of the legs 7. This arrangement being such that these profilebodies are arranged away from the slot-like depressions 16 or,respectively, dumb-bell-like profile bodies 17 in the direction towardthe ends 3 of the legs 7.

In order to stabilize those profile bodies 9 located at the outer edges21, 22 of the pad they are connected to each other by a bar 23 similarto the bar 24 at the outer edge 15 of the head portion 2. In order toavoid extreme pollution of the running surface 11, it is advantageous toslant the rear outer edge 15 as shown in FIG. 1.

Between the profile bodies 9 and 17 there are several rounded holes 25for the reception of pins 26, which can be, if necessary, screwed intothese rounded holes 25 in order to further improve the reliability ofthe pad during use. It has been found especially advantageous to arrangeone of these rounded holes 25 on both sides of the center axis A-A ofthe head portion 2 of the pad and at least one further of these roundedholes 25 in each of the two leg ends 3.

The size or width, respectively, of the pad, can be adjusted byadjusting the distance of the legs 7 from one another in the mannerknown per se by means of separate connecting bars 8 or, respectively,snug-fit-pieces. In this manner, the dimensions of the connecting bar 8are such that the leg ends 3 are under tension if the connecting bar isinstalled, because it has been found out that the leg ends 3 underpressure tend to bow the connecting bar 8 resulting possibly in anintolerable abrasion of the material, whereby the pad consistingcommonly of polyurethane has to be more frequently renewed.

The connecting bar 8 can be fixed as shown at 28 in FIG. 1 to the legs 7or, respectively, their ends 3 by screws. The lateral elements 28 on pad1 improve its correct seat.

The special embodiments as shown partly in FIG. 3 and 4 are ofimportance with respect to the configuration of the rounded hole 25 andthe slot-like depression 16.

The rounded holes 25 extend conically in the direction to the end of thehole located at the hoof. The rounded holes 25 have a smooth inner wall,and the plastic material of pad 1 is at least in the area of theserounded holes so elastic that the pin 26 may be strongly screwed intothe rounded holes 25 and leave no screw-thread-prints if they areremoved from the rounded holes by screwing. The elasticity module of theplastic material is in this connection 800 MPa. The taper of the roundedholes is between 2° and 5°, preferably 3°.

The inside diameter of the rounded holes 25 at their outer free endopposing the end at the hoof is thus because of the taper or conicalconfiguration about 0.2 to 0.3 mm greater than the outside diameter ofthe thread portion of the pin 26.

As can be gathered from FIG. 4, the slot-like depressions 16 areprovided with a bottom 105, the thickness of which is such that thewhite line of the hoof can be observed when clear or transparent plasticmaterial is used to form the pad. On the white line the depressions 16will be located into which the hoof nails are hammered if the hoof padis fixed to the hoof.

As further shown in FIG. 4, the bottom 105 of the slot-like depressions16 is provided with a thickness which is smaller than the thickness 103of the plastic material surrounding these depressions. The bottom can beprovided with at least one hole not shown in the drawings for thereception of the tip or, respectively, the shaft of the hoof nail. Thedepressions 16 are surrounded by the border 103, the height of whichcorresponds to the height of the head of the hoof nail so that the hoofnail head can be completely dropped in the depression. The length of thedepressions 16 corresponds at least twice the length of the hoof nailhead. The border 103 advantageously surrounds the depression 16completely.

Still further, it can be seen that the slot-like depressions 16 have aconical cross section of such a kind that the upper border 103 of thedepressions are outwardly extended with respect to their lower border130 defining the bottom 105.

The slot-like or longitudinal-like depressions are at least in the frontarea of the pad 1 arranged on both sides of the center axis A-A in equaldistances and are, as shown in FIG. 1, essentially located in the upperhalf of the hoof pad.

The plastic material of the pad 1 is advantageously polyurethane, butmay also be a polyamide and may, if necessary, include a reinforcingmaterial in form of glass fibers, carbon fibers, metal fibers or,respectively, threads or bodies or mixtures of these materials. In orderto further improve the strength of these materials the fibers, threadsand other bodies or mixtures thereof extend in the plane of theplate-like pad and thus parallel to the lower side of the hoof pad orthe upper side of the hoof pad, but also inclined or rectangular to theplane of the plate-like pad. The arrangement of these fibers, threadsand other bodies within the plastic material can be straight or random.

Moreover, the head portion 2 has essential advantages because of itsflat front side edge 4 or, respectively, its wedge-like cross section 5concerning the dispersion of the weight within the hoof and furthermorethe stress on the tendons of the horse leg. These advantages are ofgreat importance with respect to the recovery of sick horses withrespect to their feet and leg articulations. Moreover, by these andother above mentioned characteristics of the hoof pad, the abrasion ofthe hoof can either be completely avoided or essentially diminished, andthe shock dampening can be improved as well as the danger of injuries isreduced.

What is claimed is:
 1. Horseshoe-like, plate-configured hoof pad (1) ofplastic material having two legs (7) operative to be adapted to the sizeof a hoof by means of changing the distance between the legs (7) withrespect to one another, said means being in the form of a connecting bar(8) engageable with the legs (7) of the pad adjacent leg ends (3), saidpad including a running surface (11) covered by profile bodies (9), saidconnecting bar (8) is configured as a surface covering, separatesnug-fit-piece that substantially completes a circumference of said legends (3) in order to connect said leg ends (3) to each other, saidconnecting bar having circumferential configurations (27) adapted tofill back cut recesses (10) formed within the leg ends (3), said backcut recesses (10) being formed of flat, lateral bows wherein the snugfit piece can be inserted into the said running surface (11) of the legends (3) wherein the snug fit piece is substantially integrated in orderto keep the leg ends (3) in configurational and force transmittingconnection with one another and to make the snug fit piece exchangeablyremovable from the leg ends (3), and wherein at least some of theprofile bodies (9) are defined by a border 103 in order to form adepression operative to receive at least one hoof nail, said hoof pad(1) characterized in that a head portion (2) connecting the two legs (7)of the hoof pad (1) is provided with a flat front side (4) and a runningface portion (13) on the running surface (11) of the pad (1) thatextends on both sides of a center axis (A-A) of the pad (1) to an outeredge of the legs (7), said running surface portion (13) is free ofnob-like profile bodies (9) and is provided with a wedge-like crosssection (5) increasing in direction to the leg ends (3) in order toprovide in the center axis (A-A) a width corresponding in the area ofthe center axis (A—A) about half of the width D of the head portion (2)between the front side edge (4) and a rear edge (15), whereas therunning surface portion (13) being free of profile bodies is followed bya running portion surface portion (20) covered by nob-like profilebodies.
 2. Hoof pad according to claim 1, characterized in that thenob-like profile bodies (9) are following in the direction of the legends (3) from the slot-like depression (16) or the dumb-bell-likeprofile bodies (17).
 3. Hoof pad according to claim 1, characterized inthat the nob-like profile bodies (9) adjacent to the outer border edges(21, 22) of the leg ends (3) are connected by a bar (23).
 4. Hoof padaccording to claim 1, characterized in that nob-like profile bodies (9)are dispersed on the running surface (11) in the area of the leg ends(3) that extend over the width and length of the legs (7).
 5. Hoof padaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the nob-like profile bodies(9) are arranged in several lines behind one another and at least partlyin an alternating manner between the outer border edges (21, 22) and thecenter axis (A-A).
 6. Hoof pad according to claim 1, characterized inthat each nob-like profile body (9) is provided partly with a roundcross section and partly with a dumb-bell-like cross section.
 7. Hoofpad according to claim 1, characterized in that the backside border edge(15) of the head portion (2) is slanted.
 8. Hoof pad according to claim1, characterized in that those nob-like profile bodies (9) which are atnearest positioned to the rear edge (15) of the head portion (2) areconnected by a bar (24).
 9. Hoof pad according to claim 1, characterizedin that several rounded holes (25) are located for the reception of pins(26) between the profile bodies (9, 17).
 10. Hoof pad according to claim9, characterized in that at least some of the several rounded holes (25)are arranged on both sides of the center axis (A—A) of the head portion(2) of the pad and that at least a further one of the several roundedholes (25) is located in each of the two leg ends (3).
 11. Hoof padaccording to claim 9, characterized in that the rounded holes (25)provide a smooth inner wall and that the plastic material of the pad (1)is at least in the area of the rounded holes is elastically resilientsuch that the pins (26) can be strongly screwed into the rounded holes(25) leaving no thread print upon extraction from the rounded holes. 12.Hoof pad according to claim 9, characterized in that the rounded holes(25) are conically tapering in direction to an end of the hole adjacentto the hoof tapering.
 13. Hoof pad according to claim 12, characterizedin that the conical configuration of the rounded holes (25) is between2° and 5°.
 14. Hoof pad according to claim 9, characterized in that therounded holes (25) are configured as lined holes.
 15. Hoof pad accordingto claim 9, characterized in that an elasticity module of the plasticmaterial does not exceed 800 MPa at least in the area of the roundedholes (25).
 16. Hoof pad according to claim 9, characterized in that theinside diameter of the rounded holes (25) is at an outer free endopposite to the end adjacent to the hoof is about 0.2 to 0.3 mm greater,than the outside diameter of a threaded portion of pins (26).
 17. Hoofpad according to claim 1, characterized in that the running surface (11)of the pad (1) adjacent to the head portion (2) connecting two legs (7)are provided with slot-like depressions (16) extending in a direction ofthe width of the legs (7) and separated from one another bydumb-bell-like profile bodies (17) and adapted for the reception of theheads of hoof nails which are to be hammered into the so-called whiteline of the hoof.
 18. Hoof pad according to claim 17, characterized inthat the last slot-like depression (16) located in the direction of theleg ends (3) is arranged just in front of the connection bar (8). 19.Hoof pad according to claim 17, characterized in that the bottom (105)of the slot-like depressions (16) comprises a thickness making in caseof clear or transparent plastic material the white line of the hoofvisible, whereby the depressions (16) can be positioned over the whiteline into which the hoof nails are hammered.
 20. Hoof pad according toclaim 19, characterized in that the bottom (105) of the slot-likedepressions (16) comprises a thickness which is smaller than a thicknessat least of plastic material surrounding the depressions (16).
 21. Hoofpad according to claim 19, characterized in that within the bottom (105)of the slot-like depressions (16) is provided at least one hole for thereception of a tip or a shaft of a hoof nail.
 22. Hoof pad according toclaim 17, characterized in that the slot-like depressions (16) aredefined by a border (103).
 23. Hoof pad according to claim 22,characterized in that the height of the border (103) of the slot-likedepressions (16) corresponds to the height of a hoof nail head.
 24. Hoofpad according to claim 22, characterized in that the border (103) iscontinuously surrounding the depression.
 25. Hoof pad according to claim17, characterized in that the length of the slot-like depressions (16)corresponds to at least twice the length of a hoof nail head.
 26. Hoofpad according to claim 17, characterized in that the slot-likedepressions (16) are arranged in equal distances on both sides of thecenter axis (A—A) at least in a front area of pad (1).
 27. Hoof padaccording to claim 17, characterized in that the slot-like depressions(16) comprise a conical cross section of a kind that the upper border(103) of the depressions is extended outwardly with respect to a lowerborder (130) defining the bottom (105).
 28. Hoof pad according to claim17, characterized in that the slot-like depressions (16) are locatedsubstantially or exclusively in an upper half of the hoof pad.
 29. Hoofpad according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting bar (8)is under tension when mounted in the leg ends.
 30. Hoof pad according toclaim 1, characterized in that the plastic material of the pad (1) ispolyurethane.
 31. Hoof pad according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe plastic material is polyamide.
 32. Hoof pad according to claim 1,characterized in that the plastic material is reinforced by othermaterial.
 33. Hoof pad according to claim 32, characterized in that thereinforcing material comprises fibers, threads, bodies or mixturesthereof of glass.
 34. Hoof pad according to claim 33, characterized inthat the bodies have the configuration of balls.
 35. Hoof pad accordingto claim 33, characterized in that the fibers, threads, other bodies ormixtures thereof are disorderly arranged within the plastic material.36. Hoof pad according to claim 32, characterized in that thereinforcing material comprises fibers, threads, bodies or mixturesthereof of carbon.
 37. Hoof pad according to claim 36, characterized inthat the fibers, threads, other bodies or mixtures thereof are arrangedin alignment within the level of the plate-like pad (1) and are parallelwith respect to a lower side of the hoof or upper side of the hoof. 38.Hoof pad according to claim 32, characterized in that the reinforcingmaterial comprises fibers, threads, bodies or mixtures thereof of metal.39. Hoof pad according to claim 38, characterized in that the fibers,threads, other bodies or mixtures thereof are aligned in a planeinclined or rectangular to the plane of the plate-like pad (1) and arenormal to a lower side of the hoof pad or upper side of the hoof pad.